Annamalaiyar Temple – Fifth Prakaram – Thousand
Pillared Mandapam
This mandapa is square in shape and is situated to the
eastern side of the enclosed hall where the Vannimarathu Vinayakar shrine and
Nagalinga shrines are housed. Though this enclosed hall is rectangular in north
– south direction, it becomes a square when it is jointly perceived with the
garden grown in between this hall and 1000 pillared mandapa.
The 1000 pillared mandapa has 16 rows of 32 pillars each
on either side on the south – north direction leaving a central passage. The
inner most pillars on the northern side has the aniottikkals forming a
rectangular space with two aniottikkals on either side. The southern side lacks
one row of pillars on each side adjacent to the central aniottikkal column the
excess of 24 pillars. The entire mandapa is on a very high plinth and the adhishtana
shows two sections with parts similar to that of the adhishtana of Kambatthu Ilayanar
shrine. Every pillar of this mandapa is engraved with figures and the roof with
numerous Nandis.
The basement of this mandapa is adorned with the designs
of girls playing kolattam, warriors, and sports and so on. The pillars are
carved with sculptures of Nayak period and some divine images of sages.
Vishnu’s incarnations too find a place with floral designs.
The copper plate of Saka 1435 reveals that the land site
of 275 feet and 295 feet north south was sold to Krishnadevaraya for 500
sovereign of gold by the members of a grand mutt in Thiruvannamalai.
On entering the temple through the east tower the big
structure one faces on the right is the thousand pillared hall. There are
indications that it was built by Krishnadevaraya. The thousand pillared hall
sports exactly 1000 pillars. The pillars are carved, with sculptures of Naik
periods and some divine images. Sages, Vishnu's incarnations too find a place
with floral designs.
Inside the first quadrangle, on the right is the 1000
pillar mandapam built by King Krishnadevaraya. As one enters this mandapam, the
pillar on the right has on its top (what appears to be) the figure of
Krishnadevaraya, in a posture of supplication. On the pillar opposite is his
Ishtadevata. In the centre of the pillars of this mandapam is a 2 feet high
raised platform which is used as a dais for Lord Nataraja during certain Abhishekam
functions as Ani Thirumanjanam and
the day of Thiruvathirai.
In olden times Temple halls like the 1000 pillar
mandapam served not only for meditation and functions but also as sanctuaries
for town people whenever their town was under threat from warfare or natural
calamities.
In the Tamil months of Aani (June-July) and Margazhi
(December-January), Lord Nataraja is ceremonially installed in the hall. After
puja and Abhishekam, Lord Nataraja is taken out in procession around the Mada
veedhis.
The Thousand Pillar Hall in Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar
Temple, kept closed throughout the year despite its sculptural richness, will
now house a Museum which will feature various aspects and information about the
Temple.
The Thousand Pillar Hall, situated near the Raja Gopuram
of the Arunachaleswarar Temple, possesses carved stone pillars, and once served
as a rice warehouse for the Tamil Nadu Civil Supply Corporation. After that use
was abandoned the Hall was then used to house the Temple elephant. Since the
time the elephant was given other housing, the Thousand Pillar Hall has
remained locked and used only during the annual 'Arudhra Darshan' festival,
when it was opened for the murti of Lord Nataraja to give 'darshan' to
thousands of devotees, waiting outside the Hall.
As interested parties were worried about the plight of
the Thousand Pillar Hall which is believed to have been constructed during the
Krishnadevaraya period, (early 16th Century) the Government proposed to
establish a Museum in the Mandapam. The Temple administration has sought suggestions
on the setting up of the museum from the Commissioner of Museums, and as a
consequence detailed recommendations have been given to the Temple authorities.
In the report, it has been recommended, that the
proposed Museum should be set up utilizing 12,700 sq ft (nearly half) of the
Hall featuring hundreds of bronze, metallic and wooden objects, small stone
sculptures, portraits collected by the Temple administration and a model of the
temple. Also a sculpture garden could be set up in 8,400 sq ft land near the
Hall, in which old stone-carved Temple works could be exhibited.